The Rural Voice, 1993-10, Page 56GREY
County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
44610th St., Hanover, Ontario N4N 1P9
519-364-3050
• The Rural Voice is provided to all Grey
County Farmers by the GCFA.
OFA Regional Meeting - September 9, 1993
The Regional Meeting was chaired
by President, George Black, and was
opened with the President's
introductory remarks. George
extended a warm welcome to
everyone at the meeting, especially
those who were attending an OFA
Regional Meeting for the first time.
George noted that due to the very
successful membership blitz held this
spring, that we qualify for the third
Regional Director.
Karl Braeker, OFA Regional
Director for Grey South was on
vacation and left a written report on
federation matters both at the
Provincial and County levels. At the
OFA level the Farmer Registration
Act has been one of the many issues.
Karl has his concerns about the Act as
he believes that the naysayers will
manage to divide the farmers even
further.
At the County level we have dealt
with farmers running into problems.
Two cases dealt with The Niagara
Escarpment Commission, one of
which is still ongoing. Two members
have run into serious, and still
unresolved, problems with the Crop
Insurance Commission. In one case
Karl attended three full days of
arbitration hearings in Orangeville and
Kitchener. We also made a
presentation to the CRTC hearings in
Hull, Quebec, regarding the proposed
Bell Canada rate increases. Bell
Canada was not successful in its bid.
Wes Sparling OFA Regional
Director for Grey North reported that
the OFA was working very hard for
the Ontario farmer in several areas.
One area of concern is the Ontario
government's plan to legalize casinos.
A recent report by Coopers and
Lybrand advised recently that three
huge casinos be opened in Toronto
which would provide revenue to the
government of $1 billion. Race horse
officials claim 18,000 jobs in the
racing industry will be lost and the
related market for hay and grain for
Ontario farmers will also be lost.
Sparling stated it was not only an
52 THE RURAL VOICE
economic concern for agricultural
producers but also a social concern as
many people who can ill afford to
gamble would be gambling millions of
hard eamed dollars.
Sparling reported that he, George
Black, and Brian Milne made a
presentation to the standing committee
on Bill 42, Farm Registration and
Farm Organizations Funding Act.
This Bill has passed second reading
and should pass third reading this fall.
Sparling feels that OFA would be able
to lobby more effectively for the
Ontario farmer with stable funding in
place.
During the month of March the
OFA ran a very successful
membership campaign signing up
over 1,000 new members and 140 of
these came from Grey County. At the
last OFA Directors meeting it wag
decided that the OFA membership fee
would remain at $140 but in order to
balance the budget OFA would need
1,830 new members in the next year
with 87 of these to come from Grey
County.
Sparling reported that the OFA had
helped in creating the Environmental
Farm Plan and that by completing an
EFP he had realized the importance of
non -siphoning nozzles on fuel tanks,
check valves on water sources where
the filling of spray tanks is being done
and other valuable tips which would
help make the farmstead
environmentally safe. The
information in each farmer's plan is
strictly confidential and cannot be
used by the government against him.
Sparling also elaborated on OFA
activities relating to the Fair Tax
Commission, The Farm Tax Rebate
and the Vision 2020 discussion. The
theme for the OFA Annual
Convention, November 22, 23, and 24
is "Partners in Rural Prosperity" Land
should provide some very interesting
discussion.
Sparling reported that Roger
George, OFA President, has given
some very positive President upd4tes
and is confident that there will be a
turnaround in the economic affairs of
the agricultural sector in the very near
future.
Alvin Runnalls, from Dundas
County, who was recently elected as
an Executive Director to OFA was the
guest speaker. He reported on his
experiences as a teacher, dairy farmer,
hospital board director and 4-H leader
and how these prepared him for his
work with the OFA. Mr. Runnalls
also encouraged everyone to ask the
candidates in the Federal election
what their party's agricultural policy
is. He felt a strong federal
government was needed to stand up
for the farmer.°
Submitted by Wes Sparling,
OFA Regional Director, Grey East
REGIONAL DIRECTORS
Grey East — Wes Sparling
Grey North — Vacant '.
Grey South — Karl Braeker
DELEGATES TO
CONVENTION
Grey East — Bob Brassington,
Lynda Storey, Murray Holt
Grey North — William Cook, Elmer
Scarrow, Amold Oliver
Grey South — Bill Pullen, George
Black, Ken Furlong
GCFA ANNUAL MEETING
Friday, October 29, 1993 7:00 p.m.
Markdale Community Centre
Guest Speaker:
Rev. Roger McComb
Chaplain with RCMP and Author
"Theology of Humour"
Tickets $12.00 per person
For tickets contact Township Directors or office in Hanover.
GCFA
Directors' Meeting
Thursday, November 18, 1993
OMAF Boardroom, Markdale
8:00 p.m.
Members are welcome to attend